Collections

The collections of the Finnish National Gallery comprise approximately 40,000 works of art as well as archival material and objects. The collection is owned by the State. The management, maintenance and augmentation of the collection constitute one of the primary tasks of the National Gallery.

Responsibility for the augmentation and management of the collection is divided between three museums. The Sinebrychoff Art Museum houses old international art from the 14th to the early 19th century, the Ateneum Art Museum has Finnish art up to 1969 as well as international art from the 19th and 20th centuries, and the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma is responsible for Finnish and international art from 1960 onwards. Art historical archival material is managed by the National Gallery’s Collections Department.

The collection is augmented by the National Gallery’s museum units through acquisitions and donations. The National Gallery uses the State art budget allocation to acquire works of art on the State’s behalf. The Archive Collection grows primarily through donations and proprietary documentation.

Art Collections

The extensive art collections of the Finnish National Gallery cover a broad span of the history of art, from medieval icons to the very latest contemporary art.

The collections contain Finnish as well as international works of art. Works from the collections are always included in the National Gallery’s museum exhibitions. More information about the art collections is available at the websites of the individual museums:

Archive Collections

The Archive Collection of the Finnish National Gallery is responsible for collecting and preserving documents relating to Finnish art in particular. The Archive Collection comprises an Image Archive, Document Archive, Press Cutting Archive, and Audiovisual Archive. The Image Archive is also responsible for the sale of images at the National Gallery. The National Gallery’s Library operates in conjunction with the Archive Collection.

Working together with the National Gallery Photography Department, the Archive Collection actively documents art, artists and events in the art world through interviews, photography and video. The Archive and the Library are also involved in the exhibition projects of the National Gallery’s museum units.

The Archive Collection was previously known as the Central Art Archives, but is today part of the National Gallery Collections Department.

Collections Online

The Finnish National Gallery also offers materials and content from its collections online as part of its project for the digitisation and online publication of its collections. It provides information, produces online publications and makes its collections available in digitised form. Some of the material is also available as open data.

Search the Collections:

Art Collections Online – Browse, search for and find information about the works, artists and collections of the Ateneum Art Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma and the Sinebrychoff Art Museum.

Karkki – The database contains reference information on the Document Archive. The service is only provided in Finnish.

Lähteillä – The website presents selected materials and their background information from the Archive Collection and the Library. The materials include documents, photographs, press cuttings, publications and other records. The service is only provided in Finnish.